It's All Coming Back To Me Now (wlw)

Chapter 10

She looked at me with a strange, almost hollow expression, as if I were nothing more than a stranger passing by. It was unnerving, but something inside me couldn’t shake the curiosity gnawing away. She had always known me so well—every glance, every word was full of familiarity. But now? There was nothing. No recognition, no warmth, just a distant, confused look. I couldn't resist; I had to know what was going on. So, I did a little digging, quietly pulling some strings through my network of contacts, people who could gather information without drawing attention. And that’s when I discovered the truth that sent a thrill through me: Sanae and her wife had been in a terrible accident, and Sanae was now suffering from memory loss.

It all made sense—the way she looked at me like a complete stranger, the way she seemed so lost and detached. She didn’t remember a thing, and that meant she didn’t remember her wife either. My heart raced at the realization; this was the opportunity I’d been dreaming of, the one I’d been waiting for all these years. A chance to finally have her back, a chance to make her mine.

If her memories were gone, wiped clean like a blank slate, then maybe, just maybe, I could fill that emptiness with memories of me instead. I could be the one she turns to, the one she seeks comfort from. I could rewrite her story, replacing the face of the woman she loved with my own. All those memories of her and Ruby, all the moments they shared—I could overwrite them, replace them, until they faded into nothing more than a distant, forgotten dream.

All I needed was patience. The right moment, the perfect chance when she was alone and vulnerable, where I could start slipping into her life bit by bit. I could be her friend, her confidant, someone she could rely on. I’d be there when she needed support, a hand to hold, a voice to guide her through the chaos of her mind. I’d make her comfortable with me, little by little, until the thought of me brought her a sense of calm and familiarity. And over time, I’d become more than just a comforting presence; I’d become the one she thought she was meant to be with, the one she believed she had always loved.

The thought alone filled me with an intoxicating thrill. It was so close, so attainable. Given her condition, it wouldn’t take much to sway her, to make her believe this new reality I would carefully construct. I’d craft it meticulously, like an artist painting over a faded canvas, hiding every hint of the life she once had with Ruby. And once those memories settled in, once my image was etched deeply into her mind, there would be no going back. She wouldn’t remember Ruby; she wouldn’t even want to. I would be the only one she saw, the only one she felt tied to, and the only one she’d turn to for comfort and love. And once that happened, she’d be mine, fully and completely, just as I’d always wanted.

I was lost in thought, envisioning every detail of this plan when suddenly, I felt a firm grip pulling me away. Startled, I turned to see who it was, and to my surprise, I found myself face to face with Ish, glaring at me with eyes that burned with anger.

“The nerve of you to be following Ruby around! First, you keep popping up at their meetups, and now you’re trailing Sanae’s wife? What’s wrong with you? Why can’t you just stay quiet or disappear?” Ish’s voice was laced with frustration and contempt, each word sharper than the last.

I forced a calm smile, masking my irritation. “Oh, Ish, don’t jump to conclusions. I have no interest in Ruby, but Sanae... now that’s another story.”

The look on Ish’s face darkened even more, her anger barely contained. “You have no chance, Shaina,” she spat, her words dripping with venom. “Stop this madness. Leave my best friend and her wife alone. Haven’t you caused enough trouble in Sanae’s life already? And now you’re really thinking of ruining her relationship with Ruby? This isn’t just my assumption—I can see it all over your face that you’re planning something. If I were you, I’d quit now, because if I catch you trying to pull anything, I’ll personally make sure you’re out of their lives.”